"The Leap Home, Part
II: Vietnam"
Leap
Date:
April
7, 1970
Episode
Adopted by: Eleiece <aka>
Sherdran Additional info provided by: Brian Greene
Synopsis:
In part two of "The Leap Home", Sam ends up in Vietnam with his brother,
Tom, and gets a second chance to save him from being killed.
Ziggy is having a hard time interfacing with the pentagon computers to
find out exactly how Tom was killed. Will Sam be able to save his brother?
Audio from this
episode
TV Guide Synopsis Place
Leap Date
Name of
the Person Leaped Into
Music
Project Trivia Sam Trivia Al Trivia
Al's Women
Al's
Outfits Worn in the Episode
Miscellaneous
Trivia
Kiss with History
Writers
Director
Producers
Crew
Broadcast
Date
Guest Stars
Guest Cast Notes
Guests
who appeared in other Quantum Leap episodes Personal Review
Best Lines
Best Scenes Say What?
Quotable Quotes
Awards
Production # 66402
TV Guide Synopsis: Sam,
as a Navy SEAL in 1970 Vietnam, leaps at the chance to save the life of
one of his comrades---his own brother (David Newsom). Andrea Thompson.
Col. Deke: Ernie Lively. Sam: Scott Bakula.
Place:
Vietnam, on the banks of the Mekong River (5 miles from
the coast).
Leap Date:
April 7, 1970
Name of the Person Leaped Into:
Herbert "Magic" Williams
Broadcast Date:
October 5, 1990 - Friday
Music:
"Wild Thing" by the Troggs
"Raindrops" by Dee Clark "Psychedelic Shack" by The Temptations
"Someday We'll Be Together" by Diana Ross the Supremes
"I Wish It Would Rain" by the Temptations
Project Trivia:
Ziggy had problems interfacing with an old Pentagon computer while
searching for information on "Operation Lazarus".
Herbert "Magic" Williams (the leapee) leads Project Quantum Leap 30 years after the original series ended!
Sam Trivia: This
is the second time Sam has leapt into someone nicknamed "Magic." The
first was Charlie "Black Magic" Walters in the episode "Pool Hall Blues."
Sam's Outfits:
Camouflage fatigues, sleeveless camouflage tee shirt, head rag,
camouflage face paint , dark socks and heavy shoes, and dog tags; and
Khaki shorts (sans underwear and the top button not buttoned),
khaki-colored tee shirt, sneakers (sans socks), black wrist watch and
dog tags; and
Dark fatigue pants, sleeveless dark tee shirt and, probably, tennis
shoes.
Al Trivia:
In the bunker he knew that the frequency on the radio didn't seem
right, and he remembered the correct frequency for Sam to contact to
secure from battle stations.
Al was a POW in Vietnam. At the end of the episode, Al reveals a change in time due to Sam's actions to save his brother: he’s now repatriated in five years (1975) instead of 1973, which he had previously stated in "M.I.A."
Al's Women: Al is obsessed with Maggie throughout the episode. He states she has the "biggest, roundest..." something in Vietnam.
Al's Outfits: Al wears his full dress white Naval officer uniform throughout the episode.
Miscellaneous Trivia: This episode was shot on location about 50 miles outside of Los Angeles
in Corona, CA. It took 8 days to
shoot this episode. The location was Raahauge’s shooting range.
Diamond Farnsworth performed
the water skiing behind the helicopter. The water was only about three
feet deep, so they couldn't use a boat.
The mini-gun Sam was supposed to fire was capable of shooting 6,000
rounds a minute. Rich Whiteside (Doc) was a Navy SEAL. David Newsom was given real SEAL training to prep for this episode. The camera Maggie used was a Nikon. The photo of a younger POW Al was created using airbrushing. According to Sam in "Shock Theater", Herbert "Magic" Williams serial number is D195686. This episode has a sequel story in the Quantum Leap Novel, "Pulitzer."
Kiss With History: This episode takes place during the Vietnam War.
Crew
Writer: Donald
P. Bellisario
Director:
Michael Zinberg
Producers:
SUPERVISING PRODUCER(S):
Harker Wade & Robert Wolterstorff
CO-PRODUCER(S):
Paul Brown & Jeff Gourson
CO-EXECUTIVE PRDUCERS:
Deborah Pratt & Michael Zinberg
PRODUCER: Chris Ruppenthal
Regular Cast:
Scott Bakula as Sam Beckett Dean Stockwell as Al Calavicci
Guest Stars: David Newsom as Lt. Tom Beckett Andrea Thompson as Maggie Dawson Ernie Lively as Col. Deke Grimwald David Hayward as Dempsey Tia Carrere as Chu-Hoi Adam Nelson as Preacher Patrick Warburton as Blaster Ryan Reid as Shamo Rich Whiteside as Doc Rodney Kageyama as Choo Choo Christopher Kirby as Herbert “Magic” Williams (Mirror image) Chi Muoi Lo as Vin
Guest Cast Notes:
Andrea Thompson was born in Ohio but was raised in Australia.
Andrea was the victim of a stalker, Italian designer, Gianluigi Assenato, in December, 1998.
Andrea was a reporter for CBS affiliate KRQE News 13 in Albuquerque,
New Mexico for a year before landing a short (only 7 months)
controversial stint (2001-2002) as an anchorwoman for CNN's Headline
News.
At present Andrea hosts the Saturday night lineup on Court TV.
David Newsom another photographer (Karen Izenberg) recently had an
exhibit titled "Works" on display at the Detroit Street Gallery.
Ernie Lively appeared in the 1995 film "leaphome2 Familia" ("My Family") along with Scott Bakula.
Tia Carrere was born in Hawaii and her given name (on her birth certificate) is Althea Rae Duhinio Janairo.
In 1998 Rich had a book published, The Screenwriting Life: The Dream, the Job, and the Reality.
"The Leap Home, Part 2 - Vietnam" was Rich Whiteside's first acting job in Hollywood.
Rich Whiteside not only acted in this episode, he also served as
technical director for this episode, his qualifications being that he
served several years in Vietnam.
DAVID NEWSOM (Tom Beckett): Talk to Me (2000)
House Rules (1998)
Boys (1996)
New Nightmare... aka A Nightmare On Elm Street 7 (1994)
Homefront (1991-1992) (TV)
Judging Amy (1999)
Will & Grace (1999)
Suddenly Susan (1998)
Touched by an Angel (1996)
Chicago Hope (1994)
China Beach (1989& 1990)
ANDREA THOMPSON (Maggie Dawson): Psychic Detectives (2003) Documentary - Host
Headline News (2001-2002) Anchor
Rocket's Red Glare (2000)
Sweetheart Swindlers (2000) (TV)
Encounter in the Third Dimension (1999) (voice)
Lost Valley (1998)
A Gun, a Car, a Blonde (1997)
Delirious (1991)
Doin' Time on Planet Earth (1988)
Hot Splash (1988)
Wall Street (1987)
Manhattan Gigolo (1986)
Nightmare Weekend (1986)
NYPD Blue (1996-2000)
Captain Sileaphome2n & The Space Monkeys (1996) (voice)
JAG (1995-1998)
Babylon 5 (1994-1995)
Falcon Crest (1989-1990)
"Baywatch" (1991)
"Spenser: For Hire" (1988)
ERNIE LIVELY (Col. Deke Grimwald): "American Pie 2 ' (2001)
"Goodbye Lover ' (1999)
"The Legend of Cryin' Ryan: (1998)
"Fire Down Below" (1997)
"A Stranger to Love" (1996) (TV)
"My Family", a/k/a "Mi Familia" (1995)
"The Beverly Hillbillies" (1993)
"Passenger 57" (1992)
"Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot" (1992)
"Showdown in Little Tokyo" (1991)
"Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase" (1990) (TV)
"Hard to Kill" (1990)
"Turner & Hooch" (1989)
"Scandal in a Small Town" (1988) (TV)
"Badge of the Assassin" (1985) (TV)
Sandman (1998) - Director
"The West Wing" (2000)
"JAG" (1999)
"Just Shoot Me!" (1997)
"Renegade" (1996)
"The X Files" (1995)
"Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" (1994)
"Civil Wars" (1993)
"Baywatch" (1992)
"Hill Street Blues" (1987)
"Scarecrow and Mrs. King" (1985)
"Dukes of Hazzard, The" (1984)
DAVID HAYWARD (Dempsey):
Accidental Meeting (1993)
A Case for Murder (1993)
For the Very First Time (1991)
1,000 Pieces of Gold (1991)
Eve of Destruction (1990)
Northstar (1986)
Fallen Angel (1981)
Who'll Save Our Children (1978)
Flying High (1978)
Wait Till Your Father Gets Home (1972)
ER (1997 & 2002)
JAG (2000)
Beverly Hills, 90210 (1994 - 1995)
Family Matters (1990-1991)
Matlock (1990)
Knots Landing (1989)
RICH WHITESIDE (Doc) Quantum Leap (The Leap Home, Part 2 - Vietnam) (Technical Advisor) Quantum Leap - (1992)
Quantum Leap - (1990)
JAG - (1995-1996)
TIA CARRERE (Ti Ti , the chu hoi):
20 Dates (1998) - Executive Producer
If... Dog... Rabbit... (1999) - Co-Executive Producer
The Immortals (1995) - Associate Producer
Stitch! - The TV Series (2003)
Relic Hunter (1999)
Hollywood Squares (1998)
General Hospital (1985-1987)
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (2002)
Disney's Hercules (1998) (voice of Marigold)
Veronica's Closet (1998)
Murder One (1995-1996)
Late Show with David Letterman (1994)
Tales from the Crypt (1992)
Friday the 13th: The Series (1990)
MacGyver (1988)
Tour of Duty (1987)
MacGyver (1986)
Airwolf (1985)
Lilo & Stitch (2002) (voice)
2001 ALMA Awards (2001) (TV)
Operation Delta Force 3: Clear Target (1998)
Hollow Point (1995)
True Lies (1994)
Wayne's World (1992 & 1993)
Rising Sun (1993)
1992 MTV Movie Awards (1992)
Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)
Fatal Mission (1990)
ADAM NELSON (Preacher): Mancuso, FBI (1989)
CSI (2002)
ER (1997)
Diagnosis Murder (1994)
Booker (1990)
Mancuso, FBI (1989)
JAG (2003)
The X-Files (2002)
O Pioneers
The Abyss
The Pledge
PATRICK WARBURTON (Blaster) Salsa (1988) - Associate Producer Game Over (2003)
These Guys (2003)
The Venture Brothers (2003)
Kim Possible (2002)
The Tick (2001)
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000)
Maggie Winters (1998)
Dave's World (1994-1997)
8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (2002-2003)
Malcolm in the Middle (1999-2002)
Family Guy (2001-2002)
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000)
NewsRadio (1998-1999)
Seinfeld (1995, 1997-1998)
Ellen (1995)
Mad About You (1993)
Designing Women (1993)
Murphy Brown (1992) Men in Black II (2002)
Dirt (2001)
Scream 3 (2000)
Angels in the Infield (2000) (TV)
Emperor's New Groove (2000)
American Strays (1999)
Camouflage (1999)
RYAN REID (Shamoo): Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992)
RODNEY KAGEYAMA (Choo-Choo) :
Stanley's Gig (2000)
Next Karate Kid (1994)
Showdown in Little Tokyo (1991)
Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes (1990)
Pretty Woman (1990)
Let It Ride (1989)
Vibes (1988)
Lucky Stiff (1988)
Teen Wolf (1985)
Girls of the White Orchid (1983)
Best Friends (1982)
Gung Ho (1986)
Brotherly Love (1997)
Home Improvement Chicago Hope (1995)
Empty Nest (1994)
Murder, She Wrote (1992)
Baby Talk - (1991) (Voice of Baby Robert)
Designing Women (1989)
Charles in Charge (1985)
Riptide (1984)
Tales of the Gold Monkey (1983)
Quincy, M.E. (1982)
The Jeffersons (1981)
Arli$$ (2002)
Little House on the Prairie (1982)
CHRISPTOPER KIRBY (Herbert "Magic" Williams / mirror): Queen of the Damned (2002)
Ocean Girl (1994)
The Burning Zone (1996)
The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air (1996)
Space: Above and Beyond - Technician (1996)
Flipper (1995)
Guests Who Appeared In Other Quantum Leap Episodes:
David Newsom (Tom Beckett) also appeared (as Tom Beckett) in "The Leap Home, Part 1."
Rodney Kageyama (Choo Choo) also appeared in "Lee Harvey Oswald" (as Joda).
Rich Whiteside (Doc) also appeared in "A Leap For Lisa" (as a Marine guard)
Personal Review:
"The Leap Home, Part 2 - Vietnam" is one of my two favorite 'Al'
episodes, tying for first place with 'M.I.A." Dean Stockwell was
nominated for an Emmy for this episode, and in this fan's opinion I
think he should have won. But that's another discussion for another
time.
In watching this episode again as preparation to writing this synopsis,
something occurred to me. Perhaps GTFW leaped Sam into Tom's squad, not
just to perhaps save his brother's life, but also to learn a hard
lesson. A lesson about selfishness, about the too often unexpected
price that life exacts for allowing selfishness to get you what you
want. That's what Maggie's death did for Sam.
In this respect, how much like Sam are we?
But "The Leap Home, Part 2 - Vietnam" also taught Sam another lesson,
gave him an example in selfless sacrifice.
Al could very easily have told Sam that he was one of those POWs being
led along that trail 'right over there'. And, knowing Sam as he does,
Al knew he had a darned good chance that he could get himself rescued
if he'd just opened his mouth and said so. He had a chance to change
his own history. But he didn't. Instead he chose to help Sam save Tom's
life. What's more, he didn't allow Sam to feel guilty about it later in
the bar.
A verse from the Bible says it best: "Greater love hath no man than
this, that he lay down his life for a friend." John 15:13.
That's what Al did. He sacrificed himself, his chance for freedom, to
help his best friend. Ultimately, Sam was able to repay his best
friend's unselfish act later when he gave Beth the hope she needed to
hang on and wait for Al to come home. How many of us, with only a few
minutes notice, be willing to give up something we want more than
anything in the world in order to let someone else get what they want
or perhaps, even more, need?
In this respect, how much like Al are we?
Best Line:
Al to Sam: "I was free. Up here (taps his temple) ...I was always free."
Best Scenes:
The Second 'best' scene : The river scene:
(Sam and Doc are hiding in the reeds along the river. Al suddenly pops
in.)
Al: "Sam! I found the POWs! The VC are leading the down a trail right
over there."
Sam: "Al, look at this."
Al: "Sam, there's only two guards. You and Doc can free 'em."
Sam: "This radio is tuned to 47.30. That's the same frequency the radio
was tuned to in the bunker
last night. We took the radio off the sappers. 47.30 is the frequency
they were using."
Al: "The chu hoi. She must have radioed them right after Maggie left
the bunker."
Sam: "She's leading them straight into an ambush." (Doc crosses to
Sam.) "I gotta go warn Tom."
Al: "You'll never catch him in time!"
(Doc grabs Sam by the arm)
Doc: "You flip, Magic, I'm gonna sedate you."
Sam: "Al, help me!"
Al looks behind Doc; he knows how close rescue was for him as a
POW/leaphome2. He makes his own tough choice.
The Best Scene:
The last bar room scene after the squad gets back to camp.
(Blaster's doing pushups on the bar with a bargirl sitting on his back,
the other guys are counting off each pushup, music is playing ("I Wish
That It Would Rain"). Sam and Tom are sitting at a table drinking beer
and talking.)
Tom: "You didn't kill her, Magic."
Sam: "Well she sure as hell didn't die the first time April 8, 1970
rolled around."
Tom: "What are you talking about?"
Al: "No, but Tom did."
Sam: "Well there it is. I traded a life for a life."
Tom: "You are one weird dude, Magic." (He leaves the table and goes to
the bar.)
Al: "I was the one that led you back to save your brother. So if
anyone's responsible, it's me."
(Colonel Griswold enters, carrying a large manila envelope; he crosses
to the bar. Blaster completes the 50 pushups then does one more)
Blaster: "51. That one's for you, Maggie."
Col. Grimwald: "Can a solider get a drink around here?"
(He hands the envelope to Tom)
"Maggie's last photographs. Choo Choo, give me a beer."
(He's handed a beer)
(Tom takes the photographs from the envelope and looks through them,
impressed.)
Tom: "She was one helluva photographer."
Col. Grimwald: "She was one helluva a woman."
Sam: "And I killed her."
Col. Grimwald: "No. I did."
Tom: "Oh stop it, both of you."
Al: "What did she say to you that time in the bunker?"
Sam: "She said she'd sell her soul for a Pulitzer."
Col. Grimwald: "Not just her soul."
Tom: "Yeah, well I wish she'd have got it."
Al: "She did."
Sam: "What?"
Tom: "The Pulitzer. I wish she'd have won the Pulitzer prize."
Al: She did. For her last photograph."
(Sam looks up at Al's words then jumps up and goes to Tom and grabs the
pictures from Tom's hands. He turns back to the table and spreads the
pictures out, looking for Maggie's last photograph. He finds it. For a
moment all he can do is stare at it before he slowly straightens up,
meeting Al's gaze.)
Al: "What the hell? I get repatriated in five years."
Sam: "You could've been free."
Al: "I was free." (He gently taps his right temple) "Up here...I was
always free."
Tom: "Hey! Hey, it's midnight. It's April 9th and I'm still alive."
(He turns to Sam with a grin and puts his arm around Sam's shoulders.)
"Thanks to you, little brother."
Sam leaps.
Say What? The Supremes "Someday We’ll Be Together" wasn't released until November 1970. The camera click when Maggie
takes the photo of the photo (later revealed to be Al) doesn't match
the position Al faces as he is being brought through the jungle. Why is Sam wearing blue jeans in the jungle when the rest of the platoon is wearing camoflage?
Quotable Quotes:
Al to Sam: "I was free. Up here...(taps his temple) ...I was always
free."
Sam/Al: "What do I say when I get them?" .... "Help!"
Al: "Ziggy's having trouble interfacing with it (an old Pentagon
computer). It's like trying to get two members of the U.N. to talk
without a translator."
Al: "Sam, I'm the one that thinks with his glands, not you."
Al: "Tough choice, kid."
Al: "Oh shoot! ... She put her jammies on."
Al: "Just remember...you've got an ace in the hole. Me."
You know she's got the biggest, roundest...
Camera lens in Vietnam, I know.
Oh yeah, that... the lens too.
-- Al and Sam, "The Leap Home, Part 2 - Vietnam"
Thanks to you, little brother.
-- Tom Beckett, "The Leap Home, Part 2 - Vietnam"
Where do I bunk?
My place?
-- Maggie Dawson and Al, "The Leap Home, Part 2 - Vietnam"
Magic's got a sixth sense.
Yeah, you could call me that.
-- Tom and Al, "The Leap Home, Part 2 - Vietnam"
Ah, woman, you're picking the wrong man.
-- Al to Maggie Dawson, "The Leap Home, Part 2 - Vietnam"
AWARDS: Co-Executive Producer, Michael Zinberg won the Director's Guild Award
for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Dramatic Series for this episode.
Michael Watkins won a 1991 Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography for a Series.
Dean Stockwell received a 1991 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
|